More than 1,000 call for action at notorious crossroads

A CAMPAIGNER who collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for action at a notorious crossroads is to deliver his appeal direct to councillors.

Brian Hall and other Bedale residents have campaigned for more than ten years for road safety measures on the crossing known as Five Lanes End at Firby Road, Sussex Street and Masham Road.

The petition calls for a 20mph limit on the roads together with traffic calming measures and a light-controlled crossing point. Two years ago an elderly mobility scooter driver was killed at the junction. A car also ploughed into a centre for the elderly on the crossroads.

The county council’s Hambleton Area committee will meet on Monday at 2pm to consider the petition and Mr Hall will address them.

“There are a few of us going and I am hoping other people from the town will come," he said.

"This is such an important issue. We have been campaigning for such a long time and the highway authority have just made it worse by blocking the path with signs.

“More than 400 new homes are being built in Bedale and Aiskew, this is already one of the busiest roads in the town with two schools, a GP surgery, leisure centre and elderly people’s bungalows. One man has died and it is really dangerous for elderly people who dice with death trying to cross the road. There is no safe place to cross."

He added: "A lot of parents with pushchairs and children also have to cross that road. Highways say they can’t put a crossing in because there isn’t room but we could at least have 20mph limits, even matrix signs and traffic calming.

"I am hoping the committee will listen to what we are saying and support us in getting something done that will make that junction safer. They can’t just dismiss the petition. More than 1,000 people are saying we want action and it’s crucial that the committee listens to those very serious concerns."